Hunter Sonata 23 (ish)

[gunman]

Following on from my topic 'Can anyone suggesta 22-23ft yacht, I have just been down my yacht club and today a hunter sonata has been put up for sale at the mooring next to mine (can't get much closer than that now can you) I rowed over to take a look around and the owner came out to show me round it, first impressions are very good, cabin interior looks excellent, mast and rigging look good, sails look good but not like new, Hull and running rigging all look good (not original gel coat, it has been painted). It comes with a 5hp yamaha outboard and a trailer, asking price, just shy of £4k.

Anyone any opinions on this, how it would sail etc? Oh, and it's a fin keel too.

 

[Searush]

Try Googling it;

They have good reputation, designed by David Thomas & with a relatively large sail area it should sail well but might need early reefing.

 

[gunman]

I did a search on google and got the specs, just interested in anyones personal experience, it seems a bit more performance orientated than I'd be used to.

The draught may be a slight issue at 4' 6".

 

[Searush]

I did a search on google and got the specs, just interested in anyones personal experience, it seems a bit more performance orientated than I'd be used to.

The draught may be a slight issue at 4' 6".

Go for a sail on it. Chat to the owner, find out why he is selling, but you must decide how reliable what he tells you is.

 

[Strathglass]

Anyone any opinions on this, how it would sail etc? Oh, and it's a fin keel too.

Sailed against them quite often.
good seaworthy craft.

Better if a blow than an E boat. A bit cramped but they sail well.

Would be on my short list for club racing.

Iain

 

[jac]

Have sailed the centreboard version

And they do sail very well.

Very handy, very enjoyable t o sail - very like a big dinghy. Engine only really needed for forec 1 or less and getting into marina's - everything else you may as well do under sail they're so manouverable.

Probably not one for a nervous beginner but if you're not in that category then very good.

Cruised for 2 weeks with 3 others on board - not going to compete with a big Halberg for comfort or build quality but at 1% of the price you'd be worried if they did!

If you want a more sporty boat then has to be on the short list.

If you want something without the depth - get the CB version.
If you want something more cruiserish then get the Duette.

 

[gunman]

It does seem perfect for what I'm thinking of and I couldn't get one any closer, but I've just looked this up off the inland waterways ireland website for lough erne:

Navigational Criteria
Length: 36m
Beam: 6m
Draft: 1.2m
Air draft: 4.2m
Draft dimensions are given as a guide only and are dependent on water levels

This has a draft of 1.37m so even staying within the navigational markers, youre not guaranteed enough water to float.

 

[PeteCooper]

[ should sail well but might need early reefing.

Very rare to reef a Sonata - the most they usually do is change headsail to a No 2, but even that's fairly rare.

 

[AdamH]

Sailed against them quite often.
good seaworthy craft.

Better if a blow than an E boat. A bit cramped but they sail well.

Would be on my short list for club racing.

Iain

Well, as an E-Boat owner I'd say that a Sonata is the third on my list of boats of this size to own... In order;

1 - E-Boat
2 - Limbo 6.6
3 - Sonata
4 - Anderson 22

But my E-Boat bias aside, go for it! The Sonata is a great boat to sail and race. Most boats that sail well have a deeper draft anyway so keep an eye on your depth sounder. Oh, and early reefing isn't a problem either.

 

[Strathglass]

Well, as an E-Boat owner I'd say that a Sonata is the third on my list of boats of this size to own... In order;

I have nothing against an E boat - Owned, enjoyed and raced one for many years (E217)

But I have seen one sink in heavy weather. Crew ok but boat never recovered. (washboards not in place).

I fitted closed cell foam buoyancy to mine.

There was a very competitive fleet on the Forth a few years ago. Most seem to have gone to Ireland those days.

They were often sailed in exterme conditions with a good crew.

But lack of stability for serious offshore sailing due to low ballast. They are really large dinghys with lids.

Perhaps it is my progressing age but I think that the Sonata would suit more people than an Eboat.

Not trying to pick an argument - just stating my opinion.

Cheers

Iain

 

[Lakesailor]

a hunter sonata has been put up for sale

Anyone any opinions on this,

Have you had a browse around their site http://www.sonata.org.uk/index.php ?

Loads on the Lakes. Mainly raced, many in tip-top condition. Usually about £5-6K. Having said that they can be a bit light on gear if you are going coastal.
There is a good market in secondhand sails if those on the boat offered are not too good.

 

[gunman]

aarrrggghhh... I'm very tempted by this, timing isn't great (wife due to give birth in 2 weeks) but that cant be helped. I might go back today for another look and a chat.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[PeterR]

Sonatas are brilliant little boats. I owned one for 20 years and only sold when I retired and could justify a bigger boat. There are many good racing fleets still going and they sail well to handicap in flat water but if you only want to cruise they are a bit of a handful with a No1 and full main above F3/4. However, with a No3 jib and a main with 3 reefing points they can handle almost anything short of a full gale in open water. I frequently took mine across the North Sea and on one occasion came back from Dunquerque to Ramsgate in F7+ when all the crew from bigger boats were getting taxis to Calais to catch the ferry.

They go better to windward than anything else of the same size short of a modern sportsboat. Off the wind they will not plane due to the tuck in the stern but once you get to about 6.5 knots just tow a massive stern wave.

They are fairly lightly built but do not have a reputation for falling apart. Watch out for osmosis and check the chainplates have not leaked at deck level and let water into the supporting bulkhead otherwise there should be no major problems if a boat looks OK.

 

[Ketch]

Raced Sonatas great little boats - see there is also a 22ft Fox Terrier (Copeland Boats) for sale on E bay at the moment. There was another boat that could outstrip the Sonata by some way when racing and that was the Westerly GK 24. If you can manage without much headroom it offers unbeatable sailing performance and a remarkable amount of space down below (well it has a 10ft beam so what do you expect).

They are first class in any sort of sea - worth a quick look if nothing else. I owned one for about ten years remarkable little boats.

Also raced Seal 22's which are great to sail and again a surprising turn of speed.

Ketch

 

[gunman]

Thanks guys, from what you have all said and from what I have read, the sonata is a great sailing boat, now if only I were a great sailor !

My only concern is that it may be too much for me to handle as I lack experience. But then, there's only 1 way to get experience.....

I think I am going to look at a bilge keel corribee this week and hopefully on Saturday go back and get a good look over the sonata and possibly a sail.

The wife wants me to get the sonata (and I tend to agree), but I could get 2 corribee's for the price. I know thats not really the point, just maybe the corribee would be the next logical step?

I'm an indecisive bugger aren't I?

 

[Quandary]

Do what your wife tells you, get the Sonata, lucky boy, not many women are that perceptive.

 

[gunman]

Yes indeed, even if her choice is based on interior trim.

 

[gunman]

Ok guys, tomorrow is decision time, I'm going for a sail and a real good look around. From what I can tell on these boats the main things to look at are:

Chainplate mounts around bulkhead
cracking around rudder\transom rudder mounts
Blisters in the gelcoat (from reading online I have found that blisters are common around the waterline, but it isnt osmosis. This one has been painted in epoxy paint which is the recommended cure so hopefully is OK)
Bombdoors and hinges

Obvious things then are sails\rigging etc.

Anythine else I need to look at? I noticed some slight delaminating of the plywood at the top of the bulkhead, does this support the mast or is it just cosmetic?

cheers.

 

[Ketch]

Good luck - really hope it works out - weather is not very good tomorrow (rain and overcast) are you taking the decission maker with you?

Check for flexing and look for cracking where ply bulkhead is de-laminating - but otherwise simple job to put right. Check standing rigging especially if she has been used for racing at all.

Fingers crossed...

Ketch

 

[gunman]

Good luck - really hope it works out - weather is not very good tomorrow (rain and overcast) are you taking the decission maker with you?

Check for flexing and look for cracking where ply bulkhead is de-laminating - but otherwise simple job to put right. Check standing rigging especially if she has been used for racing at all.

Fingers crossed...

Ketch

Met office has the weather OK (for Northern Ireland):

Saturday:
A dry day with some sunny spells, the best of these around northern and eastern coasts as some cloud bubbles up over land. Winds will be light. Maximum temperature 20 °C.

I'm going alone (well, apart from the seller, swmbo is 1 week of giving birth to our 3rd so she's in no fit state). Light winds should be Ok as I'm quite keen to see how it handles in light airs, thats one problem with the L17, it's gastly slow in light airs.

Cheers for the support .